IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders' strongest predicted XI against Delhi Capitals

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will host the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, May 24. This is the final league game in the IPL this season.

How important is this clash going to be for the two teams? The results of the matches between Lucknow Super Giants versus Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians versus Rajasthan Royals are going to decide the significance of the KKR versus DC match.

If the Royal defeat the Mumbai Indians on Sunday afternoon, KKR vs DC will be a mere formality. If Punjab Kings win and the Royals lose, DC will be eliminated, and KKR will have to win on Sunday by a huge margin to move into the top four.

However, if both Punjab and the Royals lose, the Capitals could make it to the playoffs with a huge win over KKR. On the other hand, the three-time champions will reach the playoffs if they can beat the Capitals. The margin of defeat won't be important.

Here is KKR’s predicted XI vs DC in Match 70 of IPL 2026:

Top-order: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Finn Allen (Impact), Manish Pandey

Ajinkya Rahane has had a forgettable campaign with the bat. However, his performance as captain has been decent. Finn Allen had a quiet start to the season and eventually lost his place in the side. However, he has been on a roll since his comeback five games ago. In the last game against the Mumbai Indians, Manish Pandey got his first chance in the season to bat. On a sluggish track, he played a calm and composed knock of 45 runs off 33 balls, helping KKR get the much-needed win.